Comparison of acellular and whole-cell pertussis-component DTP vaccines. A multicenter double-blind study in 4- to 6-year-old children
C. M. Morgan, D. A. Blumberg, J. D. Cherry, K. S. Reisinger, M. M. Blatter, J. L. Blumer, C. L. Dekker, M. G. Stout and P. D. Christenson
Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1752.
An acellular pertussis-component combined diphtheria and tetanus toxoids,
and pertussis (APDT) vaccine adsorbed was compared with a licensed
whole-cell pertussis-component combined diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, and
pertussis (DTP) vaccine adsorbed for reactogenicity and immunogenicity when
given as the fifth DTP immunization to eighty-two 4- to 6-year-old
children. The reaction rates with both vaccines were low; APDT vaccine
recipients had significantly less pain and warmth at the injection site
than did DTP vaccine recipients. Antibody responses to pertussis antigens
(lymphocytosis-promoting factor, filamentous hemagglutinin, and
agglutinogens) and to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids were all brisk. The
APDT vaccine recipients had a more marked response in antibodies to
filamentous hemagglutinin and a less marked response in agglutinins than
whole-cell vaccine recipients. On the day after immunization, both APDT and
DTP vaccine recipients had an increase in mean leukocyte and neutrophil
counts. This APDT vaccine is immunogenic and less reactogenic than a DTP
vaccine with a whole-cell pertussis component when administered as a
booster to 4- to 6-year-old children.
